BLM's Kipp Boat Launch Available for Limited Use

A portion of the boat launch and shuttle parking area at the Kipp Recreation Area (where U.S. Highway 191 crosses the Missouri River, north of Roy) is now available for canoeists and kayakers for taking out of the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River.

The boat ramp is still heavily compacted with mud up to a couple of feet thick, however the BLM’s force account has cleared a path down the ramp, making it at least useable for canoes and kayaks to launch or take out.

Using the ramp to launch or take out motorized boats on trailers is not recommended and users do so at their own risk. The potential for quickly getting a vehicle/trailer mired down in the excessive mud and sediment is tremendous.

The two main vault toilets at the information kiosk have also been cleaned, repaired and are open for use.

However, the remainder of the Kipp campground will remain closed for repairs following this year’s flood damages.

The BLM is currently gathering cost estimates for cleaning and repairing the camping pads, water lines, other toilets and access roads throughout the popular recreation area.

“We’ll open the campground as quickly as possible, however for public safety and health reasons, the campground will remain closed until we can clean and repair the flood damage,” offered Gary Slagel, the BLM’s Missouri Breaks National Monument Manager.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.